New to Scrap Trade, Need some Advice.

hi folks, I have an opportinuty to purchace a 1982 holiday rambler alumi lite travel trailer. It is 29 ft with aluminum studs in the walls, ceiling and floor. the window frames also, as well as the roof and under carriage are covered with aluminum. Also outer shell is aluminum. It weighs just under 5,000lbs total i am Told, with a very rigid steel frame. Is this a good investment? Could someone ballpark the return at the current prices? Purchase price is $400.

if it's a dual axle the frame alone could be worth that. You might even get a better price if they simply want it "gone"

Thank you, Bear, it is dual axle. I think i will offer $300 bucks and see if they bite.

good luck man

Thanks again man, I'm an electrician who can't find work here in MS, but it turns out my kids still get hungry anyway, haha, you have been most helpful.

Is the Rambler in better the scrap condition? If so..flip that baby for a nice better then scrap profit..if not..yea do as you plan.

good luck!

Sirscrapalot - Its sunny an I'm posting this while watching the waves.

It is solid man. def worth gutting and remodeling. all the skylights were removed and covered with sheet metal and kool sealed. no leaks. I could probably put a grand into it and make a nice profit maybe?

try pricing some at an RV dealership somewhere ; ) What part of MS are you from, up north, or down by the coast?

Originally Posted by taterjuice

I'd part it out. Rv's lose value stupid fast, so Id pay as little as possible, scrap it and run as fast as I can.

Taterjuice, I beg to differ with you on this one. I spent most of most of life in the RV business and you would not believe the value that good name brand trailers, like Holiday Rambler, hold. I've seen 15 and 20 year old units sell for almost what they sold for new. If you are thinking about motorized RV's, they do depreciate quicker, but the still hold some value. Used RV's are where most beginners get their start.

If this unit isn't really ragged out on the inside, it could be revamped and sold, OR, it could be partly scrapped and the frame would make one heck of a scrap hauler. Fact is, if didn't live so far away, it would gone in nothin' flat, just for the frame.

Couple hours from the coast, In Brookhaven. my wife is from Pascagoula, and we are debating on moving there. Ingalls shipyard wants me to come take some tests for them

it is def. the cadiallac of its day. The construction is really good. all welds on the studs, air works, stove, everything. I am really torn on this issue, and have been kicking it around with the wife. I really like the idea of having a camper that is paid for and i can customize, as i will Join the IBEW and travel as an electrician if the shipyard doesn't pan out. However, we really need the money, but I have no Idea what the return might be? Hoping I could get $650 out of scrapping it to put towards a truck.

I wasn't suggesting throwing more money into it, unless thats your kinda thing. Lots of folks looking for a good solid used unit tho.

Couple decent sites out there will tell ya the value of a unit if decent condition if you want get an idea of your end results if ya decide to rehab it.

Many good uses for a used trailer, hunters, folks looking for a entry trailer/rv to full timing in one, etc.

Either way good luck! Any profit is better then no profit!

Sirscrapalot - Someday I shall travel full time in my rv. Talk a bout a traveling cooler then...ha!

Edit: Just saw your latest post on the condition of it, if it works an all good inside, throw it on cl for a 1000 bucks an watch it go..!